Latest military reports received from Vavuniya reveal that a major attack launched by LTTE terrorists at the security forces headquarters Wanni and Air Force Base Vavuniya early this morning (Sept 9) was completely foiled.

According to the reports, the terrorists launched a pre-dawn ground assault coordinated with artillery fire and an air raid with the intention of causing severe damage to the Air Force assets in the Vavuniya air base.

Defence sources in Vavuniya state, the terrorists launched artillery fire to the Army camp in order to prevent counter attack and directed their ground assault at the airbase. However, valiant soldiers moved forward amid heavy enemy artillery fire and crushed the terror ground assault completely. According to the available information, 10 bodies of slain LTTE cadres have been found so far.

According to Air Force sources, an LTTE air craft was detected in the early warning radar monitors at around 3.26 a.m., while another was spotted 5 minutes later. SLAF jets took on the hunt intercepting the enemy craft and reportedly shot down one, in the Mullaittivu skies around 4a.m.

10 soldiers laid down their lives and 15 others suffered injuries. One police constable was killed and 8 others sustained injuries due to the enemy artillery fire. Five Air Force personnel also suffered injuries. A civilian was also reported killed due to the indiscriminate LTTE artillery shelling.

(Source : http://www.defence.lk)